Every homeowner puts a lot of time and effort into keeping everything in working order, but if something goes wrong with your amenities (your toilet for example), this will throw a wrench in your plans of having a nice and long problem-free day.
Your toilet might seem to be working well, but it might stop working altogether one day without you even knowing why. To nip this issue in the bud and avoid a world of plumbing trouble, make sure that you keep an eye out for these 6 warning signs.
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You’re Constantly Repairing It
Some people have to go through the trouble of constantly repairing their toilets. Whether it’s a major or minor fix, repairing your toilet can be a warning sign that you need a new one. Instead of having to constantly call a plumber to fix your toilet, you can cut down the costs by getting a new one that doesn’t have the chronic issues of your older toilet. Replacement can sometimes be the better option, even if it might seem more costly at the time. Repairing an old, cracked toilet implies that you’ll have to do several more fixes before it gives up or even causes major issues in the plumbing system in your house.
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Your Toilet Is Wobbly
If your toilet is wobbly, you might be looking at a minor issue of untightened parts, which can be easily fixed by a handyman or a plumber. However, if your toilet remains wobbly, the professionals at https://www.toiletable.com/ explain that you might be looking at a different problem, which is probably the floor underneath your toilet. Your toilet might be leaking without you knowing, which can cause the floor underneath to rot and become softer, resulting in an unstable surface for your toilet to rest on. If that is the case, you’ll have to call in a plumber to diagnose the issue and apply the appropriate solution. They will also recommend installing a new toilet, as the old one will still leak even after your floor is fixed.
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High Water Bill
Leaking water will result in skyrocketing water bills over time. So, if you haven’t noticed the leakages or any underlying issues with your toilet yet, your high water bills might be your tip-off. If you notice that your water bill is higher than usual, you might want to inspect your toilet for any cracks, leakages, or installation issues. You can also call a plumber to do the inspection for you, as they’ll know better what issues to look for. In addition to this, while newer toilet models can be a bit on the expensive side, they are highly water-efficient, which will help keep your water bills reasonable and under control.
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Clogging
Clogged toilets can serve as an unpleasant surprise. If your toilet clogs every once in a while, this shouldn’t raise alarms. However, if that’s a recurrent issue, this might indicate that your toilet is getting old and is in need of a replacement. Old, low-flush toilets might cause clogging more often than not (probably once every week), so if that sounds like your toilet, you’ll probably need to replace it. You also won’t have to lose the benefits of a water-saving toilet, as modern technologies offer a host of low-flush, water-saving options.
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There Are Multiple Cracks
If water pooling around the toilet becomes too obvious, you’ll need to check for cracks in the toilet. Toilets can still be working even if they’re leaking, so you have to inspect your toilet, either way, to know whether or not there are cracks in the bowl or the tank of the toilet. As we mentioned earlier, water leakages can damage your bathroom floor, cause rot, or mold growth. If you can’t tell if there are cracks, you can add dye in the water tank and see if that water will make its way to the bathroom floor.
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Ineffective Flushing
High water bills can also be attributed to inefficient flushing. While many people may not consider this an issue, getting a more water-efficient toilet will cut down your water bills considerably. Average toilets use 3 to 5 gallons of water with each flush, while newer water-efficient models use only 2 gallons of water. Therefore, this might be a good option for those who have a big family or want their house to be as environmentally friendly as it could be.
These 6 signs should be your warning signs, so make sure that you consult a plumber right away to know what your best options are depending on your bathroom and plumbing system. However, before you do that, make sure that you set up a budget first, as this will help you narrow down your options and manage your expectations.